TORONTO — Who can change a game in a single play?
There are a select few of those guys around the CFL and on Sunday, with seasons on the line, those will be the players to watch.
We know that when it comes to the Edmonton Eskimos, Mike Reilly, Brandon Zylstra and Almondo Sewell are going to have a major say in the outcome of the football game. The same goes for James Wilder Jr. for the Argos, Duron Carter for the Riders and Bo Levi Mitchell for the Stamps.
But who are the X-factors in the CFL playoffs — the ones that fly under the radar but could easily come out and make the difference?
In a league so unpredictable, we look at one defensive and one offensive X-factor on every team playing this weekend:
| CALGARY STAMPEDERS | |
| OFFENCE | DEFENCE |
| Marken Michel, WR | Jameer Thurman, LB |
 |
|
Marken Michel, WR
The Stampeders’ rookie receiver is expected to return this week after healing a suspected hamstring injury and if he does, he adds a new dimension to an already-potent Stampeders attack. A speed receiver that can stretch the field, Michel adds a deep option that helps complement the underneath game that Marquay McDaniel and Jerome Messam bring to Dave Dickenson’s offence.
Jameer Thurman, LB
As a part of a linebacking corps where Alex Singleton dominates most of the headlines, Jameer Thurman could steal the spotlight should he help the Stamps defence close out their rival. The Stamps ‘backers love to rally to the ball, and facing an Eskimos team that sends big bodies such as Brandon Zylstra over the middle, Thurman could help minimize the damage. Perhaps even more valuable could be his play in the run game against a red-hot tailback in CJ Gable, who loves getting to second level and making a man miss in open field. Even if the rookie defender could freeze Gable up for a split second while teammates arrive on the scene, the Stamps could neutralize the Eskimos’ most recent star pickup.
| EDMONTON ESKIMOS | |
| OFFENCE | DEFENCE |
| Vidal Hazelton, WR | Da’Quan Bowers, DL |
 |
|
Vidal Hazelton, WR
When Derel Walker is the third option in the passing game, opposing defences need to take note. At least that was the case last week. A big game out of Vidal Hazelton could make for a long day for the Stampeders secondary, which will already be occupied with Brandon Zylstra and Adarius Bowman, who combined for three majors last week in Winnipeg. Hazelton has shown flashes of the form he showed in Toronto, where he was the go-to receiver for Ricky Ray. If the Esks tap into that to complement the production of their other pass-catchers, they could pull off a rare win at McMahon.
Da’Quan Bowers, DE
Bowers was on this list last week and there wasn’t really any reason to take him off. Bowers could be the beneficiary of depth at his position. The Eskimos’ front boasts a rotation that includes the likes of Odell Willis, Almondo Sewell and John Chick just to name a few. Bowers is a force in the trenches and with seven sacks in his first year and has a knack for getting timely stops, while others on the line take up space and double teams.
| SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS | |
| OFFENCE | DEFENCE |
| Bakari Grant, WR | Willie Jefferson, DE |
 |
|
Bakari Grant, WR
Bakari Grant isn’t on this list because he led his club in receiving last week. He is on the list because of how the Riders have been successful against the Argos in their two meetings thus far. In the first matchup it was all about the deep ball, primarily to Duron Carter. In the second, crossing routes and intermediate gains over the middle. Grant is a big body that can match up well physically against an Argos linebacking corps that will have Bear Woods and Marcus Ball back. With Carter and Naaman Roosevelt stretching the field, Grant’s ability to find open spots in the middle of the field could be huge as the Riders wait to take their shot.
Willie Jefferson, DL
Give Ricky Ray time and he will find an open receiver. The Riders’ best chance of flipping that script is Willie Jefferson, who will be matched up against Chris Van Zeyl for a good portion of the game. Van Zeyl did a good job containing the Riders’ pass rusher in the first contest but sat out the second with injury. If Jefferson can maintain pressure and collapse the pocket on Ray, he could make a long day for the Argos line.
| TORONTO ARGONAUTS | |
| OFFENCE | DEFENCE |
| DeVier Posey, WR | Cleyon Laing, DT |
 |
|
DeVier Posey, WR
DeVier Posey’s production has been up and down this year. Not necessarily an indictment of him but rather a symptom of the Argos’ offence, which tends to key in on SJ Green and James Wilder more in the second half of the season. When Posey is involved, however, he is a difference-maker. Arguably the Argos’ most natural deep threat, a few big gains early on could do nothing more than open up the underneath game to Wilder, Armanti Edwards and Anthony Coombs. Either way, if he can get the Riders to bite and take DBs with him, he could quietly keep the Argos’ offence on the field.
Cleyon Laing, DE
Shawn Lemon is back and although the sacks aren’t piling up like they were, Victory Butler is still getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. That, plus the play of Justin Tuggle, has created quite the quandary for offensive lines in the CFL. Enter rookie Dylan Wynn and Cleyon Laing, who anchor the interior of that Argos defensive line. Laing can bull rush like the best of them but also has enough finesse in his technique to spin off a would-be block. A solid rush by him and Wynn could either clog things up for QB Kevin Glenn, free up the ends or force RB Marcus Thigpen off tackle, which burned the REDBLACKS but could benefit a speedy Argos defensive backfield.
